WASHINGTON (CNN) - Ralph Nader announced Sunday he is entering the presidential race as an Independent.
In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," the consumer advocate said great changes in U.S. history have come "through little parties that never won any national election."
"Dissent is the mother of ascent," he said. "And in that context I've decided to run for president."
Nader, who turns 74 this week, complained of the "paralysis of the government," which he said is under the control of corporate executives and lobbyists.
It marks his fourth straight White House bid - fifth if his 1992 write-in campaign is included.
Nader's entry into the race did not come as a surprise to political watchers.
On Sunday, Sen. Barack Obama criticized him. "My sense is that Mr. Nader is somebody who, if you don't listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you're not substantive," Obama told reporters when asked about Nader's possible candidacy.
– CNN's Josh Levs
From CNN Politics
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no. no. no. go away. no one is interested in another nader bid...
What is he thinking? Or better yet, what are people thinking that are considering voting for him. The ones that voted for him last time are the ones that caused this country to be in a junk yard state that it is in right now; the Bush Administration.
Are some voters so outraged with Hillary or Obama that they woud vote for someone who has no way of winning. There really need to be time limitations on when a candidate can enter a race.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo
I don't think there will be that many democrats stupid enough to cause the Nader-effect to happen again...
Godd for him, but Obama is the best.
I'll take nader over Obama anyday
NADAR/PAUL ;D
Who cares? Ron Paul running as an independent will have a bigger impact. Nader is simply an egomaniac.
I wonder how much the Republicans are paying him this time around...
Uh oh!!!!
This is going to become messy. I have a prediction:
As a result of Nader jumping in, Clinton will decide to stay in the race as well. Then what? Who knows. . . . . .
Let's be sure to thank Ralph Nader for all that he has done as a consumer advocate. He got rid of the unsafe Corvair and the unsafe Al Gore and the unsafe John Kerry.
Thank you Ralph for making George Bush possible – TWICE!
Now you can help make sure we don't get an unsafe Obama or Clinton by helping John McCain.
Self-righteous Nader enters the race. Personally, I think the wisest comment of the week has come from Castro in ridiculing our election process.
Oh, no? Are the trying to split up the non-republican vote? Obama is too strong!
He knows he is acting as a spoiler because the Democrats are not liberal enough for him. I am asking all of you; please do not support him, it may be a protest vote – that I understand, but also know that all it will take is about 10% of the voting population to hand this election to John McCain. Nader's position will be that "Its our own fault for not choosing someone like him in the first place and that we deserve what we get."
As you encounter his supporters, please honor their desire for something different, but please ask them if they really want another 4-8 years of what we have already had. Change comes in small painful steps and it needs to begin with Barack Obama in the White House.
If Hillary doesnt get the democratic nod, hes got my vote coming his way.
Big Deal!
Must you ruin another race, ralph nader? do you not have a soul?
What republican is funding your campaign?
I wonder how much the Republicans are paying him this time around...
Well, it looks like Nader is going to ruin another election. Doesn't he realize that he got us into this mess in the first place.
On CNN Politics.com**The Political Ticker you can find in bold face a link for, Hilary Clinton, John McCain, but none for Barack Obama. Why is that?????
Yay! If my choices were McCain, Obama or Nader in November, my vote will go for Nader.
It will be the first time in 15 years that I will be voting outside the Democratic Party. McCain would be poor for the US on the war on Iraq and Obama is too of a European-style leftist for me and inexperienced.
I really think he is a republican trying to pull away votes from the middle against the dems. This really sucks!
Sigh...you silly Americans. Just get your act together and vote for Hillary.
Excellent! Another choice then Obama if he gets the nomination. Unless Hillary/Obama soon get together and work out the democratic ticket...McCain and Nader will surely take votes away from Obama (if hes nominated). Time will tell.
Again? This is a fairy tale!